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India ready for WTO compromise

India has expressed hope on Friday that it could work out a compromise with the United States and the European Union over the agenda for a new round of World Trade Organisation talks, but stood firm against increasing the group's focus on labour and the environment.

''The impression we get... Both in Brussels and in Washington is that there is a certain amount of flexibility which can lead to good results,'' Indian National Security Adviser Brajesh Mishra told reporters yesterday following talks with US Trade Representative Charlene Barshefsky in Washington.

But India's Commerce Secretary P P Prabhu said US and EU proposals to increase WTO's focus on labour and the environment were unacceptable. He also said it was critical that trade implementation issues are worked out.

Prabhu's comments underscored the differences that remained between key trading powers over the agenda of a proposed round of global trade negotiations.

The United States and the European Union are at odds over the scope of the talks, particularly Washington's drive to slash EU farm subsidies.

Some emerging economies question whether a new round of global trade talks should be launched at all after the WTO's ministerial meeting in Seattle from November 30 to December 3.

''Preparations have not advanced very much in Geneva,'' said Hugo Paemen, head of the European Commission's delegation in Washington. But he added, ''I think everybody expects that a new round will be launched in Seattle.''

UNI

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